51st NTPC Runs Thursday-Saturday, Adds Light Unlimiteds

Worthington, Ohio---The National Tractor Pullers Association teams with the Northwestern Ohio Tractor Pullers Association in Bowling Green, Ohio to present the 51st annual National Tractor Pulling Championships Thursday through Saturday, August 17-19 at the Wood County Fairgrounds. The NTPC was voted the NTPA's 2016 Super National Pull of the Year and will include for the first time all 13 Grand National divisions over the course of its five sessions.

In truck and tractor pulling, vehicles drag a 20-ton weight transfer sled along a straight, dirt track as the sled's resistance increases. Within a class of similar vehicles, the puller that achieves the greatest distance is victorious The NTPA is the world's number-one sanctioning organization for premier-level events that feature highly specialized machines resembling farm tractors, trucks, and dragsters and dedicated competitors that battle for purse money and end-of-season championships. With superchargers emitting an ear-splitting whine, massive tires churning clay at 100-mph wheelspeeds, turbochargers pumping columns of diesel smoke into the sky, and engine combinations exceeding 10,000 horsepower, high-performance pulling offers fans a multitude of thrills unmatched by any other motorsport.

The National Tractor Pulling Championships are part of the NTPA's Grand National series presented by Case IH Agriculture. In 2017, Case IH will pay top NTPA competitors over $50,000 at year's end. Participants will earn points toward Grand National titles and berths in the Enderle Pull-Off all-star invitational on Saturday, September 16.

The NTPC is also the fourth and final tour stop for the Shell Rotella Cup presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts, which rewards the top three Grand National pullers in each of five divisions (SSD, TWD, FWD, MINI, and UNL) with $30,000 in bonus money. The Shell Rotella Cup series spanned three additional events: the GALOT Motorsports Park Mule City 300 in Benson, North Carolina; the Budweiser Dairyland NTPA Super Nationals in Tomah, Wisconsin; and the Lions Super Pull of the South in Chapel Hill, Tennessee. Over each Cup event weekend, GN competitors from each Cup division who pull the greatest and second-greatest total distance will earn "Hardest-Working Puller" O'Reilly gift cards.

Expected to defend their 2016 Grand National titles are champions Korth, Jody and Colin Ross, Strickland, Rod Deck of Winside, Nebraska ("Dream On" SF), Conny, Petro ("Buckeye Hauler"), Jim and Paul Holman of Wauseon, Ohio ("4 Play" FWD), Dean Holicky of Montgomery, Minnesota ("Mother Trucker" SEMI), Koester, Brandon Simon of Farley, Iowa ("Simon Sez" LT UNL), Berg, and Knapp. The NTPC marks the final appearances of the season for the Light Super Stocks, Super Semis, and Light Unlimiteds, and these champions will be crowned after their final hooks of the weekend.

Tickets for each of Sessions One, Three, and Five are $20 in advance ($22 at the gate). Sessions Two and Four are included in all-day Friday and all-day Saturday tickets, respectively, and are available for $40 ($44); a five-session weekend pass may be purchased for $100 ($110). Reserved seating is available in some areas for an additional $5 per seat per session. Tickets may be purchased from the event website (www.PULLTOWN.com) or by phone (1-888-FULPULL) and may be picked up at the office at 1150 Haskins Road, Bowling Green, Ohio during business hours until Wednesday, August 16, or at the Gate B Will Call window from Thursday, August 17 forward. The NTPC has a no rain date, no refund policy. No unauthorized video equipment is permitted in the arena.

Fans in attendance at Bowling Green will enjoy live video, instant replays, distances, and sponsor messages on the NTPA's Official Mobile Video and LED Scoreboards. And fans around the world can tune into the broadcast, including live announcer commentary, via the all-new Live Streaming interface. Visit WatchNTPA.com to purchase individual sessions or the $299 Season Pass or to read a list supported devices and connection instructions. The event will also be part of Season 13 of "NTPA Championship Pulling" on RFD-TV, which will debut in August.

For additional information about the event, visit the event's website, www.PullTown.com, or its Facebook page. To learn more about NTPA Championship Pulling, check out www.NTPAPULL.com for up-to-date event schedules (including maps and local weather), point standings, and event results.

Watch the 12th season of "NTPA Championship Pulling" presented by Case IH: Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Eastern/5:30 p.m. Central. Encore performances appear on Mondays at 12:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. Eastern. RFD-TV is available on satellite through DirecTV (345), Dish Network (231), and AT&T (568) along with Spectrum/Time Warner, Brighthouse, Comcast, Charter, Suddenlink, Cox, and other cable providers. Check your current provider for details or visit the channel finder at www.rfdtv.com.

NTPA Live Streaming will produce internet broadcasts of 12 national events in 2017. Visit WatchNTPA.com to purchase live and on-demand access to individual events or the $299 Season Pass---that's less than $10 per session! NTPA Live Streaming's new interface includes "Live DVR" controls and adaptive bitrate technology to promote an interruption-free broadcast. Check the site for lists of streamed events and compatible internet devices.

Subscribe to the Official Magazine of the NTPA! The Puller brings you the best in NTPA news, stories, and related pulling information. Tractor Supply Company (TSC) carries The Puller and the annual PULL! Official Program and Souvenir Yearbook.

Wear it loud! The NTPA's Webmall has pulling apparel in fresh, new designs for fans of all ages and sizes. Hats, event shirts, hoodies, pins, and patches all sport the iconic NTPA shield that represents excellence in premier-level pulling. Event, TV series, and special DVDs let you watch pulling action on your schedule. See it all at ShopNTPA.com.

For more information about the NTPA, visit our website, www.NTPAPULL.com, follow us on social media at our Facebook page (ntpapulling), Twitter (@NTPApull), YouTube (NTPApull), and Instagram (ntpa), or call the NTPA office at 614.436.1761.